Posted:

Comments:

A ship originally ordered for the deposed Libyan regime of Muammar Gaddafi was christened into luxury cruise service in Italy on Saturday by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

The $697 million high-end liner with 1751 cabins was commissioned by Gaddafi’s son, Hannibal, to kick start the cruise industry in Libya before the country’s revolution in 2011.
The ship, originally due for delivery to Tripoli in December 2012, would have been the world’s first cruise ship owned by an Arab company. But instead of plying the waters out of Tripoli, the ship, christened the MSC Preziosa at the weekend by Sophia Loren, will embark on a series of short Mediterranean voyages from its home port of Genoa.

As 4345 well-heeled passengers cruise to ports such as Naples, Barcelona and Marseille, they will enjoy four swimming pools, 26 lifts, a bowling alley and 21 bars across 18 decks.

The MSC Preziosa also includes 69 exclusive “yacht club suites”, hydro-massage pools and a glass-walled observation lounge.

There is also butler service to arrange everything from cigars to table reservations at the first two Eataly restaurants at sea, traditional English afternoon high tea and private parties.

There is an aqua adventure park and MSC’s longest water slide at sea on the 333-metre ship.

The christening in Genoa went off in spectacular style with flash mobs from sister ships MSC Splendida and MSC Opera contributing to a light and sound show.

MSC, founded by billionaire Gianluigi Aponte, is one of the world’s largest shipping companies. It bought the partly finished Gaddafi ship after the uprising in Libya.

Gaddafi was captured and killed in Libya on October 20, 2011, by rebels opposed to his dictatorship. Hannibal fled via Algeria.

Posted:

Comments:

Italian archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient Roman city submerged off the coast of Libya. The remains of the city date back to the 2nd century A.D. and were found by archaeologists and experts from Sicily and the University Suor Orsola Benincasa of Naples, involved in the ArCoLibia archaeology project.

The discovery took place on the Cape of Ras Eteen on the western side of Libya’s Gulf of Bumbah, as archaeologists were searching the area for shipwrecks and the remains of ancient ports.

Archaeologists instead found walls, streets, and the remains of buildings and ancient tombs. After a careful analysis, the experts realised the area extended for over a hectare.

Experts also said that the city could have been destroyed by a strong tsunami after an earthquake which struck the eastern coastal region of Cyrenaica in 365 A.D.

According to a statement released by Sicilian authorities, the city flourished through the manufacture of imperial dye, a purple pigment used to colour the clothing of the Roman elite.

The dye was very expensive in Roman times.
{Source: ANSAmed}

Posted:

February 6, 2009

Comments:

Libyan General Office of Tourism and Traditional Industries has pledged to improve Libya’s tourism strategy for 2008/2012. The new developments are aimed at attracting 1.5 million tourists by 2012, and at transforming Libya into one of the main and cleanest tourist destinations in the world.

The plan will include improvements in the sectors of advertising, promotion of national and foreign investment, reception capacities, basic infrastructure, quality standards, and, of course, the protection and preservation of the natural and archaeological resources from plundering and bad use.